As Americans exercised their right to vote, a new class of U.S. citizens was sworn in Tuesday in Orlando.

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalized 30 immigrants from 19 different countries at the Orlando Public Library.

The new citizens took the Oath of Allegiance, shared smiles and even shed tears.

Laura Aguilar, who came to the U.S. 15 years ago from Mexico, said the moment meant a lot to her. She called it "an opportunity I have for my family."

Aguilar’s 17-year-old son, Leonardo, is not a citizen yet. Getting her own citizenship is something she did for him.

"I’m very proud of her," Leonardo said. "It took a lot for her to become a citizen, and I’m really grateful that she’s gotten the opportunity."

The 30 new Americans cannot vote Tuesday, but they will be eligible for the next election.

Calin Jean, who hails from Haiti, voted in Orange County Tuesday in his fourth presidential election since becoming a U.S. citizen. He said the privilege to choose is not something to take lightly.

"This means the world to me because I have the possibility to (get) involve(d) in the decision process of this country, one of the greatest countries in the world," he said.

That patriotism was on full display at the library Tuesday morning.

"Today, I am a citizen, a proud citizen," Aguilar said.

WEBVTT
DO.
ALEX VILLARREAL WAS THERE.
ALEX: WE HAVE 30 NEW AMERICAN
CITIZENS HAILING FROM 19
DIFFERENT COUNTRIES NATURALIZED
AT THE ORLANDO PUBLIC LIBRARY.
A MOMENTOUS OCCASION ON A
MOMENTOUS D.
30 IMMIGRANTS TOOK THE AUTHOR OF
ALLEGIANCE IN ORLANDO ON
ELECTION DAY.
SHARING SMILES AND EVEN SHEDDING
TEARS.
SHE CAME TO THE U.S. 15 YEARS
AGO FOR MEXICO.
>> IT MEANS A LOT TO ME BECAUSE
IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY I HAVE FOR
MY FAMILY.
ALEX GALL AND HER SON IS NOT A
CITIZEN YET AND THIS IS
SOMETHING SHE DID FOR HIM.
I AM VERY PROUD OF HER.
SH DID THIS FOR ME.
I AM GLAD SHE HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY.
ALEX: THE 30 NEW AMERICANS
CANNOT VOTE TODAY BUT THEY WILL
BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE NEXT
ELECTION AND WILL TAKE THEIR
PLACE IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS.
>> THIS PRIVILEGE IS NOT
SOMETHING TO TAKE LIGHT.
ALEX: HE HAILS FROM HAITI AND
HAS VOTED AND FOUR PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS.
>> THIS MEANT THE WORLD TO ME
BECAUSE I HAVE THE POSSIBILITY
TO BE INVOLVED IN THE DECISION
PROCESS OF THIS COUNTRY, ONE OF
DEGREES COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.
ALEX: THE PATRIOTISM ON FULL
DISPLAY IN THE LIBRARY TODAY.
>> NOW, I AM A CITIZEN, A PROUD
CITIZEN.